Most theories agree that a child's morality is regulated by inner standards from birth. truly moral individuals do the right thing to conform to others' expectations. at first, a child's morality is externally controlled by adults. conscience does not begin to take shape until age 7.

at first, a child's morality is externally controlled by adults.

Freud believed that young children form a conscience by identifying with the same-sex parent. Then, they adopt their same moral standards. He believed moral development was then largely complete by age 5 or 6.

Most researchers now disagree with this view, and they instead believe that fear of punishment and loss of love motivate moral behaviour in children. Therefore, children's morality is largely externally controlled by adults.